Story [C2007] Australia in New Zealand

[Skater]

Australia have arrived in New Zealand for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy consisting of three one-day internationals.

Despite the ICC World Cup 2007 beginning in the West Indies soon, both teams will be at about full strength.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting held a press conference at the team hotel in Auckland shortly after landing.

Journalist: With the World Cup so close, will your team be taking this series seriously?

Ricky Ponting: Australia take every series seriously. It doesn't matter that the World Cup is so close, we still have a hunger to win.

Journalist: After losing the Commonwealth Bank Series, will that hunger to win be more evident than it might have been?

Ricky Ponting: It would have been evident anyway.

Ricky Ponting and Australia are in a hungry and confident mood ahead of the series.

His opposite number, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, held a press conference at the the stadium on the same day.

Journalist: Australia captain Ricky Ponting has said his team have a 'hunger to win'. Does this comment intimidate your team?

Stephen Fleming: No, I would expect that from Ricky Ponting and Australia. My team are seeking revenge after the Commonwealth Bank Series and we have our home crowd behind us.

Journalist: Who do you think will play a big part in the series?

Stephen Fleming: Cricket isn't an individual sport like tennis, it is a team sport and I am sure all eleven players will play a big part in the series.

Both teams have released their twelve man squads and there are no shocks for New Zealand but Nathan Bracken is being rested for Australia.

New Zealand

Lou Vincent
Stephen Fleming
Ross Taylor
Scott Styris
Jacob Oram
Craig McMillan
Brendon McCullum
Daniel Vettori
Shane Bond
Michael Mason
Daryl Tuffey
James Franklin

Australia

Adam Gilchrist
Phil Jaques
Ricky Ponting
Mike Hussey
Brad Hodge
Michael Clarke
Shane Watson
Brad Hogg
Andrew Symonds
Brett Lee
Glenn McGrath
Brad Haddin

The schedule shows that two matches will be played at Auckland and one match will be played at Christchurch.

Schedule

TBC: 1st ODI at Auckland
TBC: 2nd ODI at Christchurch
TBC: 3rd ODI at Auckland

 

[surendar]

This shd be an interesting one! Gud Luck with this story

 

[Punk_Sk8r]

Nice to see you doing a story Lee, hopefully it should be good, are you playing as NZ?

 

[Skater]

I'm English, of course I will be playing as New Zealand!

I am having some problems with the squads at the moment but I should be able to start soon.

 

[H0wZ4T!]

Hooray! Another Kiwi! Good luck, and please win by ten wickets.

 

[Mtk]

Sounds good mate, good luck with the series, is gonna be interesting

 

[Punk_Sk8r]

He's not a kiwi lol...

 

[Skater]

I have sorted out the squads but there has been a small edit to the squads in the first post, Brett Lee is in for Nathan Bracken.

 

[Mtk]

Thats good news , more pace...

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Wow , this will be a gr8 story , all the best lee

 

[Left_Hander]

Good luck with this. THough I will be cheering for Australia.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Good luck with this. THough I will be cheering for Australia.

I will too cheer for ausise . Aussie rulez .

 

[GrayNicolls]

Nice one, Lee. I hope you keep on with this story.

 

[Jaztheman]

hopefully a good story. good luck

 

[Skater]

The first one-day international of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy between New Zealand and Australia has begun at Auckland. In the teams, New Zealand selected James Franklin over Craig McMillan and Australia select both Adam Gilchrist and Brad Haddin, but Haddin will be the wicket keeper.

New Zealand

1. Lou Vincent
2. Stephen Fleming (captain)
3. Ross Taylor
4. Scott Styris
5. Jacob Oram
6. Brendon McCullum (wicket keeper)
7. Daniel Vettori
8. Shane Bond
9. Michael Mason
10. Daryl Tuffey
11. James Franklin

Australia

1. Brad Haddin (wicket keeper)
2. Phil Jaques
3. Ricky Ponting (captain)
4. Mike Hussey
5. Michael Clarke
6. Adam Gilchrist
7. Shane Watson
8. Andrew Symonds
9. Brad Hogg
10. Brett Lee
11. Glenn McGrath

The pitch has a lot of grass on it and the weather is dull and it looks like it could rain but it is mild. New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming won the toss and elected to bowl first.